Newark Teacher Union Wins ‘Quarantine Day Grievance’ vs. District

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark Public School District will have to reimburse hundreds of teachers and aides for nearly $1 million in sick days and pay after an arbitration ruling this week, a report says.

The staff members were forced to isolate after they were exposed to the coronavirus through their children, and were required to take their available sick days or unpaid days – although an arbitrator ruled they were the same as “quarantine” days, which are paid under the educators’ current contract, NJ.com reported.

Read the full article here.

According to a social media post from the union, the ruling orders the board to “provide the affected bargaining unit members with the restoration of their used sick leave or, in the event that they did not have sick leave available, their regular pay for all absences that were occasioned by COVID-19.”

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